Turkish Politician Rejects Health Minister's HPV Vaccine Stance, Cites 'Clear Scientific Evidence'

Aylin Yaman, Deputy Chairman of the YENİ Party and Ankara Deputy, strongly criticized Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu's assertion that the HPV vaccine is not needed in Turkey. Yaman highlighted that scientific research clearly demonstrates the vaccine's effectiveness in significantly reducing the risk of cervical cancer.

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Scientific evidence is clear. Delaying each day increases the risk for preventable diseases and preventable deaths.

Memişoğlu had stated in a TV program that due to different HPV rates and profiles in Turkey, some scientists believe the vaccine is unnecessary, and the issue is still under discussion. Yaman countered this by referencing a study published in 'The Lancet' on June 17, 2026, which clearly shows a significant reduction in deaths from cervical cancer associated with high HPV vaccination rates. She also pointed to large-scale studies from various European countries, published in reputable journals like BMJ and European Journal of Cancer, confirming the vaccine's substantial impact, especially when administered at an early age.

Ahmet Mehlepçi, General Chairman of the Birlik ve Dayanışma Union, also voiced his support for the HPV vaccine, stating, "Scientific data is extremely clear: the HPV vaccine protects, it prevents cancer." He questioned which scientific commission the Health Minister was referring to and noted that millions are screened annually for early detection instead of prioritizing vaccination. Mehlepçi argued that more resources are spent on screening than vaccination, despite clear scientific evidence that a significant portion of this cancer is preventable through immunization.

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Scientific data is extremely clear: the HPV vaccine protects, it prevents cancer.

Mehlepçi further explained that evaluations of randomized controlled trials, long-term follow-ups, systematic reviews, and real-world data involving millions of people show high protection, particularly when individuals are vaccinated before exposure to HPV types included in the vaccine. He stressed that data now indicates a reduction not only in HPV infections or precancerous lesions but also in invasive cervical cancer cases.

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We are spending much more effort and resources on this than on vaccination. However, scientific data clearly shows us that a significant portion of this cancer can be prevented through vaccination.